Houston’s loss and Seattle’s win put the Mariners a game up in the AL West. The Astros next six games are against the Rangers and Mariners.
HOUSTON — For the first time since early June, the Houston Astros are looking up at a team in the American League West standings.
The Seattle Mariners have snatched the top spot in the division, riding the momentum of a nine-game winning streak with just two weeks left in the regular season. Seattle sits one game ahead of Houston and three above the Rangers.
Sunday was the turning point. The Astros dropped an 8-3 decision to the Braves in Atlanta, while Seattle kept rolling with an 11-2 blowout over the Angels. The Rangers, meanwhile, fell in 10 innings to the Mets.
So now the question is: where do we go from here?
The Astros’ fate will likely be decided over the next six games — and the schedule is a make or break for the hometown squad. Houston hosts the Rangers for three games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then welcomes the Mariners for a weekend showdown. All six games at Daikin Park.
After that, Houston closes with three against the A’s and finishes in Los Angeles against the Angels.
Even if the division slips away, there’s still the Wild Card safety net. If the season ended today, the Astros would be in. But the Rangers are only two games behind them, and if things end in a tie, head-to-head records come into play. Right now, Houston is 5-5 against Seattle and 4-6 against Texas — yet another reason these next six games are massive.
And don’t forget about the Guardians. They’re lurking just a half-game behind Texas and only 2.5 back of Houston in the Wild Card chase.
Bottom line: buckle up, Astros fans. The last two weeks of the season are shaping up to be a wild ride.
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